Active matrix substrate and display panel

ABSTRACT

An active matrix substrate includes a glass substrate 26, a plurality of pixel electrodes 40 arrayed in a matrix, a plurality of TFTs 43, a plurality of common electrodes 42, a terminal group 60 provided at one end of a Y-axis direction on top of the glass substrate 26 and constituted by a plurality of terminals 61 and 62 placed along an X-axis direction, wires 71 that electrically connect the terminals 61 to the TFTs 43, and wires 72 that electrically connect the terminals 62 to the common electrodes 42. The terminal group 60 includes a center terminal group 64, constituted by a plurality of the first terminals 61, that constitutes a center portion of the terminal group 60 in the X-axis direction, and end terminal groups 65L and 65R, each constituted by a plurality of the first terminals and a plurality of the second terminals, that constitute both side portions, respectively, of the terminal group 60 in the X-axis direction and in each of which the second terminals 62 are each disposed between two of the first terminals 61 adjacent to each other.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an active matrix substrate and adisplay panel.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, a display device including a display panel such as aliquid crystal panel has been used in a portable information terminalapparatus such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, or a tablet laptoppersonal computer or an electronic apparatus such as a computer. Thedisplay panel is constituted by an active matrix substrate includingpixels arrayed in a matrix and terminals placed along a side of theactive matrix substrate and connected to wires drawn out from therespective pixels. Known examples of modes of placement of terminalspertaining to active matrix substrates include those described in PTLs 1to 5 listed below.

PTL 1 describes a plurality of terminals configured such that the pitchbetween terminals disposed at an end of an array direction is largerthan the pitch between terminals disposed in a central part of the arraydirection. PTL 2 describes a configuration in which the area of aterminal disposed at an end of an array direction and the pitch betweensuch terminals are larger than the area of a terminal disposed in acentral part of the array direction and the pitch between suchterminals. PTL 3 describes a configuration in which terminals connectedto source bus lines, terminals connected to gate bus lines, andterminals connected to a common electrode are arrayed along a side of anactive matrix substrate. Further, in PTL 3, the terminals connected tothe source bus lines are divided into three terminal groups, andterminal groups connected to the gate bus lines are disposed closer tothe outside than terminal groups connected to the source bus lines. PTL4 describes a configuration in which terminals connected to source buslines and terminals connected to gate bus lines are formed on a side onan active matrix substrate and alternately disposed in a direction alongthe side.

Note here that the modes of placement of terminals in the active matrixsubstrates described in PTLs 1 to 4 are summarized in (1) to (3) asfollows:

-   (1) The plurality of terminals are basically arrayed at equal    spacings and have the same area.-   (2) Some of the plurality of terminals may be arrayed at a larger    pitch for higher mounting accuracy or made larger in area for lower    resistance.-   (3) In a case where a plurality of terminals having different    functions are arrayed, the plurality of terminals are grouped into    terminal groups for each separate function, and one terminal group    may be interposed between other terminal groups. Further, terminals    having different functions may be alternately arrayed in a direction    along a side of a substrate.

Further, PTL 5 describes an in-cell liquid crystal display panelcontaining a touch panel function and describes a configuration in whichterminals connected to source bus lines, terminals connected to gate buslines, and terminals connected to common electrodes are formed on a sideof an active matrix substrate. In such an active matrix substratecontaining a touch panel function as that described in PTL 5, the commonelectrodes are configured to be divided so that a touch position can bedetected.

RELATED ART DOCUMENT Patent Literature

PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 61-3126

PTL 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-92185

PTL 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-84535

PTL 4: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-305681

PTL 5: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2013-254168

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

Recently, the display devices have been required to have higherresolution and narrower frames. For this reason, the modes of placementof terminals have been required to achieve narrower frames while copingwith increases in the number of terminals entailed by increases inresolution of the display devices. In particular, in such an activematrix substrate containing a touch panel function as that described inPTL 5, it is necessary to provide, in addition to the terminalsconnected to the wires drawn out from the pixels, terminals connected towires drawn out from the respective common electrodes. This causes anincrease in the total number of terminals, thus making it more difficultto achieve a narrower frame and causing an increase in outer shape ofthe display panel. An increase in outer shape of the display panelraises concern about restrictions on design and increases inmanufacturing cost.

DISCLOSURE OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances. Anobject is to make an active matrix substrate have a narrower frame.

Means for Solving the Problem

In order to solve the foregoing problems, an active matrix substrate ofthe present invention includes: a substrate; a plurality of pixelelectrodes disposed on top of the substrate and arrayed in a matrixalong a row direction and a column direction; a plurality of switchingelements disposed on top of the substrate and connected to the pluralityof pixel electrodes, respectively; a plurality of common electrodesdisposed on top of the substrate; a terminal group disposed at an end ofthe substrate in the column direction on top of the substrate andconstituted by a plurality of first terminals and a plurality of secondterminals placed along the row direction, a length of the terminal groupin the row direction being set to be smaller in value than a length of aregion of placement of the plurality of switching elements in the rowdirection and a region of placement of the plurality of commonelectrodes in the row direction; a plurality of switching element wires,disposed on top of the substrate, that electrically connect the firstterminals to a plurality of the switching elements placed in the columndirection, the plurality of switching element wires being disposed incorrespondence with the plurality of first terminals, respectively; anda plurality of common electrode wires, disposed on top of the substrate,that electrically connect the plurality of second terminals to theplurality of common electrodes, respectively. The terminal groupincludes a center terminal group, constituted by a plurality of thefirst terminals placed along the row direction, that constitutes acenter portion of the terminal group in the row direction, and endterminal groups, each constituted by a plurality of the first terminalsplaced along the row direction and a plurality of the second terminalsplaced along the row direction, that constitute both side portions,respectively, of the terminal group in the row direction and in each ofwhich the second terminals are each disposed between two of the firstterminals adjacent to each other in the row direction.

In a case where from each of a plurality of electrodes (or switchingelements) placed in the row direction, a wire is extended with respectto each terminal of a terminal group that is relatively small in lengthin the row direction, a plurality of the wires are disposed in such amanner as to converge toward the terminal group. Note here that since anincrease in degree of convergence of the wires leads to an increase inlength of the wires in the row direction, a larger number of wires areplaced in the column direction. When a large number of wires are placedin the column direction, there is an increase in space of placement ofthe wires in the column direction due to the width of each wire and thespacing between adjacent wires. According to the foregoingconfiguration, the end terminal groups, which constitute both sideportions of the terminal group in the row direction, are each configuredto include second terminals each disposed between two adjacent firstterminals. That is, the end terminal groups are each configured toinclude a mixture of first and second terminals. As a result, the lengthof the plurality of first terminals in the row direction and the lengthof the plurality of second terminals in the row direction can be madelarger than in a case where the terminal group has its central portionconstituted solely by first terminals and both end portions of theterminal group are each constituted solely by second terminals. That is,the degree of convergence of the plurality of switching element wire andthe degrees of convergence of the plurality of common electrode wirescan each be made smaller. This as a result makes it possible to furtherreduce the space of placement of the switching element wires and thecommon electrode wires in the column direction, thus making it possibleto make the active matrix substrate have a narrower frame.

Further, the active matrix substrate may further include third terminalgroups provided on top of the substrate, disposed on both sides,respectively, of the terminal group in the row direction, and eachconstituted by a plurality of third terminals placed along the rowdirection. In the foregoing configuration, the length of the terminalgroup in the row direction is set to be smaller in value than the lengthof the region of placement of the plurality of switching elements andthe region of placement of the plurality of common electrodes. Thismakes it possible to secure a space in which to place terminals on bothsides of the terminal group in the row direction. This makes it possibleto prevent the active matrix substrate from becoming larger in the rowdirection in a case where the third terminals, which are terminals otherthan the first and second terminals, are disposed.

Further, the switching element wires may be electrically connected tosource electrodes of the switching elements, and the third terminals maybe electrically connected to gate electrodes of the switching elements.Such a configuration allows the terminals connected to the switchingelements and the common electrodes to be arrayed along the rowdirection, thus making it possible to further reduce the space ofplacement of the terminals in the column direction.

Next, in order to solve the foregoing problems, a display panel of thepresent invention includes: the active matrix substrate described above;and a counter substrate placed opposite the active matrix substrate.According to the display panel thus configured, the active matrixsubstrate has a narrower frame, so that the display panel is excellentin design.

Advantageous Effect of the Invention

The present invention makes it possible to make an active matrixsubstrate have a narrower frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display deviceaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention as taken alonga cutting-plane line extending along a Y-axis direction.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a liquid crystal panel.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an active matrix substrate in adisplay region.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the active matrix substrate.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a mode of placement of terminals.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a mode of placement of terminals accordingto Comparative Example 1.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a mode of placement of terminals accordingto Comparative Example 2.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a mode of placement of terminals accordingto Comparative Example 3.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a mode of placement of terminals accordingto Comparative Example 4.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a mode of placement of terminalsaccording to Comparative Example 5.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a mode of placement of terminalsaccording to a second embodiment.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First Embodiment

A first embodiment of the present invention is described with referenceto FIGS. 1 to 10 . It should be noted that some of the drawings show anX axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis and are drawn so that the direction ofeach axis is an identical direction in each drawing. As shown in FIG. 1, a liquid crystal display device 10 includes a liquid crystal panel 11(display panel), a driver 17 (panel driving unit) that drives the liquidcrystal panel 11, a control circuit board 12 (external signal supplysource) that externally supplies the driver 17 with various types ofinput signal, a flexible substrate 13 (external connecting component)that electrically connects the liquid crystal panel 11 to the externalcontrol circuit board 12, and a backlight device 14 (lighting device)serving as an external light source that supplies the liquid crystalpanel 11 with light. As shown in FIG. 1 , the backlight device 14includes a chassis 14A having a substantially boxed shape opening towardthe front (i.e. toward the liquid crystal panel 11), a light source(such as a cold-cathode tube, an LED, or organic EL; not illustrated)disposed inside the chassis 14A, and an optical member (not illustrated)disposed in such a manner as to cover the opening of the chassis 14A.The optical member has a function of, for example, converting lightemitted from the light source into planar light.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1 , the liquid crystal display device 10includes a pair of front and back exterior members 15 and 16 assembledto each other to accommodate and hold the liquid crystal panel 11 andthe backlight device 14, and of these exterior members 15 and 16, thefront exterior member 15 has an opening 15A through which to see fromoutside an image displayed on a display region A1 of the liquid crystalpanel 11. According to the present embodiment, the liquid crystaldisplay device 10 is used, for example, in various types of electronicapparatus (not illustrated) such as mobile phones (includingsmartphones), laptop personal computers (including tablet laptoppersonal computers), wearable terminals (including smartwatches),portable information terminals (including electronic books and PDAs),portable game machines, and digital photo frames.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the liquid crystal panel 11 includes a pair ofsubstrates 21 and 22 disposed opposite each other, a liquid crystallayer 23 (medium layer), disposed between the two substrates 21 and 22,that contains liquid crystal molecules constituting a substance whoseoptical properties vary in the presence of the application of anelectric field, and a sealing member 24, disposed between the twosubstrates 21 and 22, that seals in the liquid crystal layer 23 bysurrounding the liquid crystal layer 23. Of the two substrates 21 and22, the front (front side, upper side of FIG. 1 ) substrate serves as CFsubstrate 21 (counter substrate), and the back (rear side) substrateserves as an active matrix substrate 22 (array substrate, element-sidesubstrate). It should be noted that although the liquid crystalmolecules contained in the liquid crystal layer 23 are aligned, forexample, in a horizontal direction, this is not intended to impose anylimitation. Further, polarizing plates (not illustrated) are pasted toouter surfaces of the two substrates 21 and 22, respectively.

The CF substrate 21 is constituted by a color filter, an overcoat film,and an alignment film (none of which is illustrated) being stacked overan inner surface (facing the liquid crystal layer 23) of a glasssubstrate (not illustrated). The color filter includes three coloredportions (not illustrated) of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) arrayedin a matrix. Each of the colored portions is placed opposite acorresponding one of pixels (see FIG. 4 ) of the active matrix substrate22.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the active matrix substrate 22 includes a glasssubstrate 26 (substrate) and various types of films stacked over aninner surface (facing the liquid crystal layer 23, upper side of FIG. 3) of the glass substrate 26. Specifically, a basecoat film 28, asemiconductor film 33, a gate insulating film 32, a gate conducting film31, an insulating film 35, a conducting film 34, a planarizing film 36,a wire 72, an insulating film 39, a pixel electrode 40, an insulatingfilm 41, and a common electrode 42 are formed to be stacked on top ofthe glass substrate 26 in this order from the bottom. The basecoat film28 takes the form of a solid pattern that entirely covers the surface ofthe glass substrate 26, and is composed of, for example, silicon dioxide(SiO₂), silicon nitride (SiNx), silicon nitroxide (SiNO), or the like.The semiconductor film 33 is stacked at a higher level than the basecoatfilm 28, and constitutes a channel portion (semiconductor portion) thatis connected to a source electrode 34S and a drain electrode 34D in aTFT 43. The semiconductor film 33 is composed of low-temperaturepolysilicon (LTPS).

The gate insulating film 32 is stacked at a higher level than thebasecoat film 28 and the semiconductor film 33. The gate conducting film31 is constituted by a single-layer film composed of one type of metalmaterial (such as tantalum or tungsten), a laminated film composed ofdifferent types of metal material, an alloy, or the like, and haselectric conductivity and a light blocking effect. The gate conductingfilm 31 constitutes gate lines 31A (see FIG. 4 ), a gate electrode 31Gof the TFT 43, and the like. That is, the gate lines 31A and the gateelectrode 31G are disposed on the same level. The insulating film 35 isstacked at a higher level than the gate insulating film 32 and the gateconducting film 31. The conducting film 34 is stacked at a higher levelthan the insulating film 35, is constituted by a single-layer filmcomposed of one type of metal material (such as aluminum (Al) orchromium (Cr)), a laminated film composed of different types of metalmaterial, an alloy, or the like, and has electric conductivity and alight blocking effect. The conducting film 34 constitutes source lines34A (see FIG. 2 ), the source electrode 34S and drain electrode 34D ofthe TFT 43, and the like. That is, the conducting film 34 can be called“source conducting film” and “drain conducting film”, and the sourcelines 34A, the source electrode 34S, the drain electrode 34D aredisposed on the same level.

The planarizing film 36 is stacked at a higher level than the conductingfilm 34 and the insulating film 35, and is composed, for example, of anacrylic resin material (such as polymethacrylate resin (PMMA)) that isan organic resin material. The planarizing film 36 is an organicinsulating film that is thicker in film thickness than other inorganicinsulating films (insulating films 32, 35, 39, and 41), and has afunction of planarizing a surface. The wire 72 is composed, for example,of copper (Cu), titanium (Ti), molybdenum (Mo), aluminum (Al), magnesium(Mg), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), tungsten (W), or a mixture thereof.The insulating film 39 is stacked at a higher level than the planarizingfilm 36 and the wire 72.

The pixel electrode 40 is disposed on top of the insulating film 39, andis constituted by a film such as a transparent electrode material (suchas ITO (indium tin oxide)). The insulating film 41 is stacked at ahigher level than the pixel electrode 40 and the insulating film 39. Thecommon electrode 42 is disposed on top of the insulating film 41, and isconstituted by a film made of a transparent electrode material (such asITO) or the like. The gate insulating film 32, the insulating film 35,the insulating film 39, and the insulating film 41 are inorganicinsulating films composed of an inorganic material such as siliconnitride (SiNx) or silicon dioxide (SiO₂), and have moisture-proofproperties.

Further, in the display region Al, the TFT 43, which is a switchingelement, is provided in correspondence with the pixel electrode 40. TheTFT 43 includes the gate electrode 31G, the semiconductor film 33, thesource electrode 34S, and the drain electrode 34D. In a place on theplanarizing film 36 and the insulating film 39 that overlaps the drainelectrode 34D, a contact hole CH1 is formed in such a manner as to bebored through the planarizing film 36 and the insulating film 39. Thepixel electrode 40 is connected to the drain electrode 34D via thecontact hole CH1. In a place on the insulating films 39 and 41 thatoverlaps the wire 72, a contact hole CH2 is formed in such a manner asto be bored through the insulating films 39 and 41. The contact hole CH2opens toward the liquid crystal layer 23 (i.e. upward in FIG. 3 ), andthe common electrode 42 is connected to the wire 72 via the contact holeCH2. Further, contact holes CH4 and CH5 are formed in such a manner asto be bored through the gate insulating film 32 and the insulating film35, respectively. The source electrode 34S is connected to thesemiconductor film 33 via the contact hole CH4. The drain electrode 34Dis connected to the semiconductor film 33 via the contact hole CH5.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the liquid crystal panel 11 has the display regionA1, which is capable of displaying an image, and a non-display region A2disposed on an outer circumferential side in such a manner as tosurround the display region A1. The display region A1 is formed in aninner portion of a region where the CF substrate 21 and the activematrix substrate 22 overlap. The CF substrate 21 and the active matrixsubstrate 22 each have a square shape, and the active matrix substrate22 projects from the CF substrate 21 toward one side in a Y-axisdirection. As a result, one peripheral end of the active matrixsubstrate 22 in the Y-axis direction is a region that does not overlapthe CF substrate 21, and in this region, terminals 61, 62, and 63 (whichwill be described in detail later) are formed. To the terminals 61, 62,and 63, for example, circuit members such as the driver 17 and theflexible substrate 13 are connected as appropriate. It should be notedthat the driver 17 may be mounted on top of the flexible substrate 13(COF mounting), and in that case, each terminal (mainly the terminals 61and 62) are connected to the driver 17 via the flexible substrate 13.

As shown in FIG. 4 , on top of the glass substrate 26, which constitutesthe active matrix substrate 22, the display region A1 is provided with aplurality of pixels 27 (pixel array) arrayed in a matrix along an X-axisdirection (row direction) and the Y-axis direction (column direction).At both ends, respectively, of the X-axis direction on top of the glasssubstrate 26, gate drivers 18 are provided, respectively. Further, anRGB switch circuit 45 is provided between a region of formation of theplurality of pixels 27 and the terminals 61, 62, and 63.

Each of the pixels 27 includes a pixel electrode 40, a common electrode42, and a TFT 43. The pixel electrode 40 is provided on top of the glasssubstrate 26, and a plurality of the pixel electrodes 40 are arrayed ina matrix along the X-axis direction (i.e. a first side direction of theglass substrate 26) and the Y-axis direction (i.e. a second sidedirection of the glass substrate 26). A plurality of the TFTs 43(thin-film transistors, switching elements) are arrayed in a matrixalong the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. The TFTs 43 areprovided at places of intersection between the gate lines 31A and thesource lines 34A, and the plurality of TFTs 43 are connected to theplurality of pixel electrodes 40, respectively. The TFTs 43 are drivenin accordance with various types of signal that are supplied to the gatelines 31A and the source lines 34A, respectively, and as the TFTs 43 aredriven, a predetermined voltage is applied to the pixel electrodes 40.

The common electrode 42 is a solid electrode, and a potential differencebetween the pixel electrode 40, which has a plurality of slits (notillustrated), and the common electrode 42 causes a fringe field (obliquefield) including a component normal to a plate surface of the activematrix substrate 22 in addition to a component parallel to the platesurface of the active matrix substrate 22 to be generated between thecommon electrode 42 and the pixel electrode 40. As a result, utilizingthe fringe field to control a state of alignment of the liquid crystalmolecules contained in the liquid crystal layer 23 (see FIG. 1 ) makesit possible to display an image on the display region A1.

As shown in FIG. 4 , each of the gate drivers 18 has a shape elongatedin the Y-axis direction, is monolithically formed on top of the glasssubstrate 26, and has a control circuit for controlling the supply ofoutput signals to the TFTs 43. The gate lines 31A, which extend alongthe Y-axis direction, are each connected to the gate drivers 18 on bothsides. Further, a plurality of wires 73 are drawn out from each of thegate drivers 18. The terminals 63 (third terminals) are provided at endsof the wires 73 opposite to the gate drivers 18. That is, the terminals63 are electrically connected to the gate electrodes 31G of the TFTs 43via the gate drivers 18 and the gate lines 31A. The gate drivers 18 aresupplied with control signals, for example, from the control circuitboard 12 (see FIG. 1 ) via the terminals 63 and the wires 73.

It should be noted that although the present embodiment has illustrateda configuration in which the gate drivers 18 are placed at both ends,respectively, of the X-axis direction on top of the glass substrate 26,this is not intended to impose any limitation. For example a gate driver18 may be placed only at one end in the X-axis direction. Further, thegate driver 18 that drives even-numbered ones of the gate lines 31A,which are placed in the Y-axis direction, may be disposed on one side inthe X-axis direction, and the gate driver 18 that drives odd-numberedones of the gate lines 31A may be disposed on the other side in theX-axis direction.

The RGB switch circuit 45 is monolithically formed on top of the glasssubstrate 26 like the gate drivers 18, and is formed in such a manner asto extend along a side (X-axis direction) around the pixel array. Threesource lines 34A corresponding to red, green, and blue pixels 27,respectively, are connected to one wire 71 via the RGB switch circuit45. The terminals 61 (first terminals) are provided at an end of thewire 71 (switching element wire) opposite to the RGB switch circuit 45.The wire 71 is a wire, provided on top of the glass substrate 26, forelectrically connecting the terminals 61 to the plurality of TFTs 43(source electrodes 34S), which are placed in the Y-axis direction, and aplurality of the wires 71 are provided in correspondence with aplurality of the terminals 61, respectively. It should be noted that thewires 71, which are drawn out from the RGB switch circuit 45, firstextend toward the terminals 61 along the Y-axis direction, next extendin a direction tilted with respect to the Y axis, and then extend towardthe terminals 61 along the Y-axis direction.

The RGB switch circuit 45 has a function of sorting, into each separatesource line 34A, image signals contained in output signals that aresupplied from the driver 17. This as a result makes it possible toperform an RGB three-primary color display by effecting variations inthe transmittance of the pixels 27. It should be noted that although thepresent embodiment has illustrated a configuration in which one wire 71is connected to three source lines 34A, this is not intended to imposeany limitation. For example, one wire 71 may be allocated to two sourcelines 34A, or one wire 71 may be allocated to four source lines 34A.

According to the present embodiment, the liquid crystal panel 11 has adisplay function of displaying an image and a touch panel function(position input function) of detecting a position (input position) inputby a user on the basis of an image that is displayed, and is integrated(by in-cell technology) with a touch panel pattern for fulfilling thetouch panel function. This touch panel pattern adopts a so-calledprojection capacitive scheme, and a detection scheme of the touch panelpattern is a self-capacitance scheme. In the present embodiment, asshown in FIG. 2 , the touch panel pattern is constituted by a pluralityof the common electrodes 42 provided on top of the glass substrate 26.That is, the common electrodes 42 function as position detectionelectrodes. The plurality of common electrodes 42 are arrayed in amatrix along the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. It should benoted that the area of each of the common electrodes 42 is set to belarger in value than the area of each of the pixel electrodes 40 so thatone common electrode 42 is placed opposite a plurality of pixelelectrodes 40. It should be noted that an example of a region ofplacement of one common electrode 42 is indicated by sign A3 in FIG. 4 .

Each of the common electrodes 42 is connected to one end of a wire 72(common electrode wire) provided on top of the glass substrate 26. Atthe other end of the wire 72, a terminal 62 is provided. That is, aplurality of the wires 72 are configured to electrically connect aplurality of the terminals 62 to the plurality of common electrodes 42,respectively. A common voltage is applied to the common electrodes 42via the terminals 62 and the wires 72.

Further, when a user of the liquid crystal display device 10 moves afinger (position input body; not illustrated) as a conductor toward asurface (display surface) of the liquid crystal panel 11, a capacitanceis formed between the finger and a common electrode 42. This causes acapacitance detected at a common electrode 42 located close to thefinger to be different from the capacitance of a common electrode 42located away from the finger, thus making it possible to detect an inputposition on the basis of the difference. During control to detect aninput position, the control circuit board 12 supplies the commonelectrodes 42 with a drive signal for detecting the input position andreceives a detection signal for detecting the input position via thedriver 17, the terminals 62, and the wires 72.

The number of common electrodes 42 that are placed (divided) is set asappropriate according to the resolving power of touch sensing and thesize of a display screen. For example, in the case of a liquid crystalpanel of a wide screen of 5 to 6 inches, the number of common electrodes42 that are divided is set to approximately 500 to 600. The followingdescription assumes that the number of common electrodes 42 that areplaced is n. The wires 72, which are drawn out from the commonelectrodes 42, first extend toward the terminals 62 along the Y-axisdirection, next extend in a direction tilted with respect to the Y axis,and then extend toward the terminals 62 along the Y-axis direction.Further, the wires 72 are disposed in such a manner as to overlap thepixel array in a Z-axis direction (i.e. a thickness direction of theactive matrix substrate 22). For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3 , thewires 72 are formed by a different conducting film from the gateconducting film 31 and the conducting film 34 (i.e. the sourceconducting film and the drain conducting film) and disposed at adifferent level (i.e. a higher level than the gate conducting film 31and the conducting film 34).

Next, a configuration of the wires 71, 72, and 73 and the terminals 61,62, and 63 is described in detail. In the following description, aterminal group constituted by terminals 61 is called “first terminalgroup”, and a terminal group constituted by terminals 62 is called“second terminal group”. Further, a terminal group constituted byterminals 63 is called “third terminal group”. In the presentembodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 , a plurality of pixels 61, 62, and 63are provided at one end of the Y-axis direction on top of the glasssubstrate 26, and are arrayed in a linear fashion along the X-axisdirection. In a case where a terminal group constituted by a pluralityof terminals 61 and 62 is a terminal group 60, the length of theterminal group 60 is set to be smaller in value than the length of aregion of placement of the plurality of TFTs 43, the length of a regionof placement of the plurality of common electrodes 42, and the length ofa region of placement of the RGB switch circuit 45 in the X-axisdirection. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 5 , the plurality of wires71 are formed to be narrowed down into a fan shape from the RGB switchcircuit 45 toward first terminal groups (first terminal groups LAC, LAL,and LAR) constituted by the terminals 61, and the plurality of wires 72are formed to be narrowed down into fan shapes from the plurality ofcommon electrodes 42 toward second terminal groups 2AL and 2AR,respectively. It should be noted that the terminals 61, 62, and 63 arefor example identical in shape and area to one another. It should benoted that FIG. 5 omits to illustrate the terminals 63.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the terminal group 60 includes a center terminalgroup 64 that constitutes a central portion in the X-axis direction andend terminal groups 65L and 65R that constitute both end portions in theX-axis direction, respectively. The center terminal group 64 isconstituted by a plurality of terminals 61 (first terminal group LAC)placed along the X-axis direction. The end terminal groups 65L and 65Rare constituted by terminals 61 and 62. Specifically, the end terminalgroup 65L is constituted by a plurality of terminals 61 (first terminalgroup 1AL) placed along the X-axis direction and a plurality ofterminals 62 (second terminal group 2AL) placed along the X-axisdirection. The end terminal group 65R is constituted by a plurality ofterminals 61 (first terminal group 1AR) placed along the X-axisdirection and a plurality of terminals 62 (second terminal group 2AR)placed along the X-axis direction. The end terminal groups 65L and 65Rare disposed in such a manner that the center terminal group 64 isinterposed between the end terminal groups 65L and 65R in the X-axisdirection.

The number of wires 71 is determined by the number of pixels 27 and howmany source lines 34A are allocated to one wire 71 by the RGB switchcircuit 45. A case of a portrait display on a liquid crystal panel foruse in a mobile phone is illustrated here. In the case of a resolutionof FHD (1080×1920), the number of wires 71 is usually 1080, and in thecase of a resolution of WQHD (1440×2560), the number of wires 71 isusually 1440 or 2160. The following description assumes that the numberof wires 71 is N. That is, the total number of terminals 61 is N. Itshould be noted that the wires 71 are constituted, for example, by thegate conducting film 31 or the conducting film 34.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the first terminal group 1AL is disposed on theleft side of the first terminal group 10AC, and the first terminal group1AR is disposed on the right side of the first terminal group 1AC. Thefirst terminal group 1AC includes a plurality of terminals 61 arrayed atequal spacings with array pitches d1. The first terminal group 1ALincludes a plurality of terminals 61 arrayed at equal spacings witharray pitches D1. An array pitch D1 is set, for example, to be twice aslarge as an array pitch d1. Further, the first terminal group 1AC andthe first terminal group 1AL are adjacent to each other with a pitch ofD1, and the first terminal group 1AC and the first terminal group 1ARare adjacent to each other with a pitch of d1 or D1. That is, the firstterminal groups 1AL, 1AC, and 1AR can be regarded as an array of thetotal number N of terminals 61 with varying pitches halfway.

The numbers of wires 72 and terminals 62 are each equal to the number nof common electrodes 42. It should be noted that it is common that n<N,as N is 1080, 1440, or 2160 and n is 500 to 600 as mentioned above. Theend terminal groups 65L and 65R each include a terminal 62 disposedbetween two terminals 61 adjacent to each other with an array pitch D1.The second terminal groups 2AL and 2AR, which constitute the endterminal groups 65L and 65R, respectively, each include a plurality ofterminals 62 arrayed at equal spacings with array pitches D2. An arraypitch D2 is set to be equal in value to an array pitch D1. That is, theend terminal groups 65L and 65R each include an alternate array ofterminals 61 and 62. For ease of comprehension of a mode of placement ofterminals 61 and 62, FIG. 5 illustrates a smaller number of terminals 61and 62 than in reality and illustrates thirty-six terminals 61 andeighteen terminals 62.

As shown in FIG. 5 , the plurality of wires 72 include a first group ofwires 72 (half of the total number of wires 72) formed in such a manneras to be narrowed down (i.e. in such a manner as to converge) into a fanshape toward the second terminal group 2AL and a second group of wires72 formed in such a manner as to be narrowed down into a fan shapetoward the second terminal group 2AR. It should be noted that the wires72 are disposed at a different level from the wires 71 on top of theglass substrate 26 so as to be prevented from interfering with the wires71. Further, the wires 72 may be disposed at a different level from thewires 71 only in places where the wires 72 and 71 overlap. Further, thewires 72 is formed at a different level from the RGB switch circuit 45and disposed to overlap the RGB switch circuit 45 in a plan view.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the plurality of terminals 63 constitute thirdterminal groups 3AL and 3AR disposed on both sides, respectively, of theterminal group 60 in the X-axis direction. That is, when one side of theglass substrate 26 is seen from the left in FIG. 4 , the third terminalgroup 3AL, the terminal group 60 (end terminal group 65L, centerterminal group 64, end terminal group 65R), and the third terminal group3AR are arrayed in this order. As shown in FIG. 4 , in the X-axisdirection, the length of the terminal group 60 is smaller than thelength of the pixel array constituted by the plurality of pixels 27. Forthis reason, even in a case where the third terminal groups 3AL and 3ARare disposed on both sides of the terminal group 60, the active matrixsubstrate 22 can be prevented from becoming larger in length in theX-axis direction.

Although the terminals 63 are terminals connected to the gate lines 31Aof the pixels 27, this is not intended to limit the uses of theterminals 63. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 , the terminals 63 may beterminals for wires 74 pertaining to the control of the RGB switchcircuit 45. Further, the terminals 63 may be replaced by placingterminals (not illustrated) for use in inspection of the liquid crystalpanel 11 or providing a patterning of a mark or product name formanufacturing management of a product. Further, in a case where theterminals 63 are used as terminals for supplying the gate drivers 18with power-supply electric power, a power supply may be electricallyconnected across two or more terminals 63.

Next, effects of the present embodiment are described. In such a case asthe present embodiment where from each of a plurality of commonelectrodes (or switching elements) placed in the X-axis direction, awire is extended with respect to each terminal of a terminal group thatis relatively small in length in the X-axis direction, a plurality ofthe wires are disposed in such a manner as to converge toward theterminal group. Note here that since an increase in degree ofconvergence (amount of narrowing down) of the wires leads to an increasein length of the wires in the X-axis direction, a larger number of wiresare placed in the Y-axis direction. When a large number of wires areplaced in the Y-axis direction, there is an increase in space ofplacement of the wires in the Y-axis direction due to the width of eachwire and the spacing between adjacent wires.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 , the end terminal groups65L and 65R, which constitute both side portions of the terminal group60 in the X-axis direction, are each configured to include terminals 62each disposed between two adjacent terminals 61. That is, the endterminal groups 65L and 65R are each configured to include a mixture ofterminals 61 and 62. As a result, the length of the plurality ofterminals 61 in the X-axis direction (i.e. the length of a combinationof the first terminal groups 1AL, 1AC, and 1AR) and the length of theplurality of terminals 62 in the X-axis direction (i.e. the length ofeach of the second terminal groups 2AL and 2AR) can be made larger thanin a case where the terminal group 60 has its central portionconstituted solely by a plurality of terminals 61 and both end portionsof the terminal group are each constituted solely by a plurality ofterminals 62 (see the terminal groups of FIG. 6 , which will bedescribed in detail later). That is, the degree of convergence of aplurality of wires 71 (amount of narrowing down W1A of FIG. 5 ) and thedegrees of convergence of a plurality of wires 72 (amounts of narrowingdown W2A and W2A1 of FIG. 5 ) can each be made smaller. This as a resultmakes it possible to further reduce the space of placement of the wires71 and 72 in the Y-axis direction (Y-axis direction frame size LA), thusmaking it possible to make the active matrix substrate 22 have anarrower frame.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4 , the third terminal groups 3AL and 3AR areincluded that are provided on top of the glass substrate 26, disposed onboth sides, respectively, of the terminal group 60 in the X-axisdirection, and each constituted by a plurality of terminals 63 placedalong the X-axis direction. In the present embodiment, the length of theterminal group 60 in the X-axis direction is set to be smaller in valuethan the length of the region of placement of the plurality of TFTs 43and the length of the region of placement of the plurality of commonelectrodes 42. This makes it possible to secure a space in which toplace terminals on both sides of the terminal group 60 in the X-axisdirection. This makes it possible to prevent the active matrix substrate22 from becoming larger in the X-axis direction in a case where theterminals 63, which are terminals other than the terminals 61 and 62,are disposed.

Further, the wires 71 are electrically connected to the sourceelectrodes 34S of the TFTs 43, and the terminals 63 are electricallyconnected to the gate electrodes 31G of the TFTs 43. Such aconfiguration allows the terminals 61, 62, and 63 connected to the TFTs43 and the common electrodes 42 to be arrayed along the X-axisdirection, thus making it possible to further reduce the space ofplacement of the terminals 61, 62, and 63 in the Y-axis direction.

Next, the effects of the present embodiment are described in detail byillustrating Comparative Examples 1 to 5. Comparative Examples 1 to 5are different in mode of placement of terminals 61 and 62 from thepresent embodiment and identical in other respects to the presentembodiment. In Comparative Examples 1 to 5, the total number ofterminals 61 and the total number of terminals 62 are equal to those ofthe present embodiment. Further, FIGS. 6 to 10 , which show ComparativeExamples 1 to 5, omit to illustrate terminals 63. In Comparative Example1 shown in FIG. 6 , a first terminal group 1B constituted by a pluralityof terminals 61 is provided, and second terminal groups 2BL and 2BR eachconstituted by a plurality of terminals 62 are disposed on both sides,respectively, of the first terminal group 1B in the X-axis direction.The plurality of terminals 61 and 62 are arrayed at equal spacings. Theplurality of wires 71 extend in such a manner as to be narrowed downfrom the RGB switch circuit 45 toward the first terminal group 1B, andexhibit a fan-shaped appearance as a whole. The plurality of wires 72include a first group of wires 72 formed in such a manner as to benarrowed down into a fan shape toward the second terminal group 2BL anda second group of wires 72 formed in such a manner as to be narroweddown into a fan shape toward the second terminal group 2BR.

In the X-axis direction, the length of the first terminal group 1B issmaller than the length of the first terminal groups (i.e. the length ofa combination of the first terminal groups 1AL, 1AC, and 1AR) of thepresent embodiment. In other words, the present embodiment includesterminals 61 disposed at both ends of the terminal group 60. For thisreason, the amount of narrowing down W1B of wires 71 in ComparativeExample 1 is larger than the amount of narrowing down W1A (see FIG. 5 )of wires 71 in the present embodiment. The term “amount of narrowingdown of wires” here refers to the length in the X-axis direction of theoutermost ones in the X-axis direction of a plurality of wires extendingin such a manner as to form a fan shape toward one terminal group. Alarger amount of narrowing down of wires means that a larger number ofwires are placed in the Y-axis direction, so that there is a largerspace of placement of wires in the Y-axis direction.

It should be noted that of a plurality of wires 71 extending toward oneterminal group, the leftmost and rightmost wires 71 may be given signs71L and 71R, respectively, to be distinguished from the other wires 71.Further, of a plurality of wires 72 extending toward one terminal group,the leftmost and rightmost wires 72 are given signs 72L and 72R,respectively, to be distinguished from the other wires 72.

In the X-axis direction, the length of the second terminal group 2BL issmaller than the length of the second terminal group 2AL of the presentembodiment. For this reason, while the amount of narrowing down W2B ofwires 72L in Comparative Example 1 is substantially equal to the amountof narrowing down W2A of wires 72L in the present embodiment, the amountof narrowing down W2B1 of wires 72R in Comparative Example 1 isobviously larger than the amount of narrowing down W2A1 of wires 72R inthe present embodiment. Thus, Comparative Example 1 is larger in amountof narrowing down of both wires 71 and 72 than the present embodiment.That is, under the constraint of wires 71 and 72, the Y-axis directionframe size LB of Comparative Example 1 is larger than the Y-axisdirection frame size LA of the present embodiment.

In Comparative Example 2 shown in FIG. 7 , a second terminal group 2Cconstituted by a plurality of terminals 62 is provided, and firstterminal groups 1CL and 1CR each constituted by a plurality of terminals61 are disposed on both sides, respectively, of the second terminalgroup 2C in the X-axis direction. The plurality of terminals 61 and 62are arrayed at equal spacings. Of the plurality of wires 71, a group ofhalf of the wires 71 is formed in such a manner as to be narrowed downinto a fan shape toward the first terminal group 1CL, and a group of theremaining wires 71 is formed in such a manner as to be narrowed downinto a fan shape toward the first terminal group 1CR. The plurality ofwires 72 extend in such a manner as to be narrowed down toward thesecond terminal group 2C, and exhibit a fan-shaped appearance as awhole.

The amount of narrowing down W1C of wires 71L in Comparative Example 2is substantially equal to the amount of narrowing down W1A of wires 71in the present embodiment. Further, the amount of narrowing down W1C1 ofwires 71R in Comparative Example 2 takes on substantially the same valueas or a slightly larger value than the amount of narrowing down W1C.Further, in the present embodiment, the second terminal groups 2AL and2AR are disposed at first and second end sides, respectively, of theterminal group 60. On the other hand, in Comparative Example 2, thesecond terminal group 2C is disposed on a center side of the terminalgroup. For this reason, the amount of narrowing down W2C of wires 72L inComparative Example 2 is obviously larger than the amount of narrowingdown W2A of wires 72L in the present embodiment. As a result of this,under the constraint of wires 72, the Y-axis direction frame size LC islarger than the Y-axis direction frame size LA of the presentembodiment.

In Comparative Example 3 shown in FIG. 8 , a first terminal group 1Dconstituted by a plurality of terminals 61 is disposed in a region thatis substantially equal in length to the region of placement of the RGBswitch circuit 45 in the X-axis direction. The plurality of terminals 61are arrayed at equal spacings with array pitches within each of whichone terminal 62 can be disposed. In a place on the first terminal group1D that is closer to the left than the center, a terminal 62 is disposedbetween adjacent terminals 61, and a second terminal group 2DL isconstituted by a plurality of the terminals 62. In a place on the firstterminal group 1D that is closer to the right than the center, aterminal 62 is disposed between adjacent terminals 61, and a secondterminal group 2DR is constituted by a plurality of the terminals 62. Itshould be noted that since the total number of terminals 62 is smallerthan the total number of terminals 61, no terminal 62 is disposedbetween adjacent terminals 61 in a place other than the second terminalgroups 2DL and 2DR. The plurality of wires 71 extend toward the firstterminal group 1D along the Y-axis direction from the RGB switch circuit45. The plurality of wires 72 include a first group of wires 72 formedin such a manner as to be narrowed down into a fan shape toward thesecond terminal group 2DL and a second group of wires 72 formed in sucha manner as to be narrowed down into a fan shape toward the secondterminal group 2DR.

In Comparative Example 3, the wires 71, which extend along the Y-axisdirection, do not affect the Y-axis direction frame size LD. Further,the amount of narrowing down W2D of wires 72L in Comparative Example 3is substantially equal to the amount of narrowing down W2A of wires 72Lin the present embodiment, and the amount of narrowing down W2D1 ofwires 72R in Comparative Example 3 is substantially equal to the amountof narrowing down W2A1 of wires 72R in the present embodiment. For thisreason, the Y-axis direction frame size LC of Comparative Example 3 issubstantially equal to the Y-axis direction frame size LA of the presentembodiment. However, in Comparative Example 3, the first terminal group1D is disposed in a region that is substantially equal in length to theregion of placement of the RGB switch circuit 45 in the X-axisdirection. This makes it necessary to place the terminals 63 in regionsS3 on both sides of the first terminal group 1D. As a result of this,the configuration of Comparative Example 3 results in a larger space ofplacement of the terminals 61, 62, and 63 in the X-axis direction thanthe configuration of the present embodiment, thus making it difficult tomake the active matrix substrate 22 have a narrower frame.

In Comparative Example 4 shown in FIG. 9 , a first terminal group 1Econstituted by a plurality of terminals 61 is disposed in a region thatis substantially equal in length to the region of placement of the RGBswitch circuit 45 in the X-axis direction. Comparative Example 4 is thesame as Comparative Example 3 in that second terminal groups 2EL and 2ERare constituted by terminals 62 each disposed between adjacent terminals61 but is different from Comparative Example 3 in that second terminalgroups 2EL and 2ER are disposed closer to the center of the firstterminal group 1E than the second terminal groups 2DL and 2DR ofComparative Example 3.

In Comparative Example 4, the plurality of wires 71 extend toward thefirst terminal group 1E along the Y-axis direction from the RGB switchcircuit 45. The plurality of wires 72 include a first group of wires 72formed in such a manner as to be narrowed down into a fan shape towardthe second terminal group 2EL and a second group of wires 72 formed insuch a manner as to be narrowed down into a fan shape toward the secondterminal group 2ER. That is, the plurality of wires 72 are formed insuch a manner as to be narrowed down into a fan shape toward the secondterminal groups 2EL and 2ER. The amount of narrowing down W2E of wires72L in Comparative Example 4 is larger than the amount of narrowing downW2A of wires 72L in the present embodiment. That is, Comparative Example4 is under the constraint of wires 72, the Y-axis direction frame sizeLE is larger than the Y-axis direction frame size LA of the presentembodiment. Further, the configuration of Comparative Example 4 makes itnecessary to place the terminals 63 in regions S4 on both sides of thefirst terminal group 1E, as is the case with the configuration ofComparative Example 3. As a result, the configuration of ComparativeExample 4 results in a larger space of placement of the terminals 61,62, and 63 in the X-axis direction than the configuration of the presentembodiment, thus making it difficult to make the active matrix substrate22 have a narrower frame.

In Comparative Example 5 shown in FIG. 10 , a first terminal group 1FCis disposed on a center side, and first terminal groups 1FL and 1FR aredisposed on both sides, respectively. The array pitch between terminals61 of the first terminal group 1FC is set to be twice as large as thearray pitch between terminals 61 of the first terminal groups 1FL and1FR, and terminals 62 of a second terminal group 2F are each disposedbetween terminals 61 of the first terminal group 1FC. The plurality ofwires 71 are formed in such a manner as to be narrowed down into a fanshape toward the first terminal groups 1FL, 1FC, and 1FR from the RGBswitch circuit 45. The plurality of wires 72 are formed in such a manneras to be narrowed down into a fan shape toward the second terminal group2F.

The amount of narrowing down W1F of wires 71L in Comparative Example 5is equal to the amount of narrowing down W1A of wires 71L in the presentembodiment. Further, in Comparative Example 5, the outermost terminals62 are disposed inside the first terminal groups 1FL and 1FR,respectively. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, theoutermost terminals 62 are disposed near both ends, respectively, of theterminal group 60. For this reason, the amount of narrowing down W2F ofwires 72 (see wires 72L) in Comparative Example 5 is larger than theamount of narrowing down W2A of wires 72 (see wires 72L) in the presentembodiment. For this reason, under the constraint of wires 72, theY-axis direction frame size LF of Comparative Example 5 is larger thanthe Y-axis direction frame size LA of the present embodiment.

As described above, the configuration of the present embodiment can makethe amount(s) of narrowing down of wires 71 and/or wires 72 and theY-axis direction frame size LA smaller than the configurations ofComparative Examples 1, 2, and 5. Further, the configuration of thepresent embodiment can make the X-axis direction frame size smaller thanthe configurations of Comparative Examples 3 and 4.

Thus, the present embodiment can make the outer dimensions of the glasssubstrate 26 smaller. This makes it possible to increase the number ofglass substrates 26 that can be manufactured from one mother substrate,thus making it possible to reduce manufacturing cost. Further, since theframe size of the liquid crystal panel 11 can be made smaller, areduction in the degree of freedom of design of an electric apparatusincluding the liquid crystal panel 11 can be prevented.

It should be noted that in the present embodiment, the driver 17 may beCOF-mounted on top of the flexible substrate 13, and in the case of COFmounting, the driver 17 is not mounted directly on the active matrixsubstrate 22 but is installed behind the active matrix substrate 22.Accordingly, a space in which to place terminals needs only be securedat a peripheral end (non-display region A2) of the active matrixsubstrate 22. This, combined with the effects of the aforementioned modeof placement of terminals 71, 72, and 73, makes it possible to make theactive matrix substrate 22 to have an even smaller frame. Further, inthe case of COF mounting, the pitch between terminals provided in theactive matrix substrate 22 does not need to be equal to the pitchbetween output terminals of the driver 17; therefore, the terminalpitches can be set according to the specifications (such as the screensize) of the active matrix substrate 22. This makes it possible, forexample, to set to wider terminal pitches. In this respect, too, COFmounting is a preferred configuration in term of making a narrowerframe. It should be noted that in the case of a special configurationsuitable to making a narrower frame, such as an alternate arrangement ofterminals, there is concern that the driver 17 may become larger insize. In particular, in the case of COF mounting, there occurs suchinconvenience that the frame of the active matrix substrate 22 becomeslarger for the large-sized driver 17 to be mounted. However, even whenCOF mounting results in an increase in size of the driver 17, the frameof the active matrix substrate can be prevented from becoming larger dueto the driver 17.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention is described withreference to FIG. 11 . The present embodiment is different in mode ofplacement of terminals 61 and 62 from the first embodiment. It should benoted that a repeated description is omitted by assigning the same signsto components which are the same as those of the foregoing embodiment.In the present embodiment, a terminal group 160 constituted by terminals61 and 62 are constituted by a center terminal group 164 and endterminal groups 165L and 165R. The present embodiment illustratesthirty-six terminals 61 and eighteen terminals 62, as is the case withthe foregoing embodiment. The center terminal group 164 is constitutedby a plurality of terminals 61 placed along the X-axis direction. Theend terminal groups 165L and 165R are each disposed to include a mixtureof a plurality of terminals 61 and a plurality of terminals 62.

The end terminal group 165L is constituted by a first terminal group 1GLand three second terminal groups 2G1, 2G2, and 2G3. The array pitchbetween terminals 61 in the first terminal group 1GL is larger than thearray pitch between terminals 61 in the center terminal group 164, andterminals 62 are each disposed between adjacent terminals 61. Note,however, that two terminals 61 are successively disposed betweenadjacent ones of the second terminal groups 2G1, 2G2, and 2G3 and thetwo terminals 61 have the same array pitch as the array pitch betweenterminals 61 in the center terminal group 164. In the end terminal group165R, the array pitch between terminals 61 in the first terminal group1GR is larger than the array pitch between terminals 61 in the centerterminal group 164, and terminals 62 are each disposed between adjacentterminals 61. Note, however, that two terminals 61 are successivelydisposed between adjacent ones of second terminal groups 2G4, 2G5, and2G6 and the two terminals 61 have the same array pitch as the arraypitch between terminals 61 in the center terminal group 164. Thus, theend terminal groups 165L and 165R of the present embodiment each includea mixture of a portion in which a terminal 62 is disposed between twoadjacent terminals 61 and a portion in which two terminals 61 aresuccessively placed.

The plurality of wires 71 are drawn out from the RGB switch circuit 45toward the first terminal groups 1GL, 1GC, and 1GR to form a fan shapeas a whole. The plurality of wires 72 include a first group of wires 72drawn out toward the second terminal groups 2G1, 2G2, and 2G3 to form afan shape as a whole. The plurality of wires 72 include a second groupof wires 72 drawn out toward the second terminal groups 2G4, 2G5, and2G6 to form a fan shape as a whole. The amount of narrowing down W1G ofwires 71 is equal to the amount of narrowing down W1A of wires 71 in thefirst embodiment. The amount of narrowing down W2G of wires 72L is equalto the amount of narrowing down W2A of wires 72L in the firstembodiment. Due to the successive disposition of two terminals 61between adjacent ones of the second terminal groups 2G1, 2G2, and 2G3,the amount of narrowing down W2G1 of wires 72R takes on a smaller valuethan the amount of narrowing down W2A1 of wires 72R in the firstembodiment. It should be noted that since the number of wires 71 islarger than the number of wires 72, the Y-axis direction frame size LGis more easily affected. In the present embodiment, since the frame sizeLG is constrained by the wires 71 and the amount of narrowing down W1Gof the wires 71 is equal to the amount of narrowing down W1A of thewires 71 in the first embodiment, the frame size LG is equal to theframe size LA of the first embodiment.

Other Embodiment

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described abovewith reference to the drawings. The following embodiments may beincluded in the technical scope of the present invention.

(1) The materials of the conducting films and the insulating films arenot limited to the materials illustrated in the foregoing embodimentsbut are subject to change as appropriate.

(2) Although the foregoing embodiments have shown an example in whichthe semiconductor film 33 of a TFT 43 is made of low-temperaturepolysilicon, this is not intended to impose any limitation. The materialof the semiconductor film 33 is subject to change as appropriate, andthe semiconductor film 33 may be made, for example, of amorphous siliconor an In—Ga—Zn—O semiconductor.

(3) Although the foregoing embodiments have illustrated a configurationin which the plurality of terminals 61, 62, and 63 are placed in alinear fashion along the X-axis direction, this is not intended toimpose any limitation. The plurality of terminals 61, 62, and 63 needonly be placed along the X-axis direction and, for example, may bearrayed (in a staggered arrangement) in such a manner that terminalsadjacent to each other in the X-axis direction are slightly displacedfrom each other in the Y-axis direction.

(4) Although the foregoing embodiments have illustrated a configurationin which the plurality of wires 72 are divided into two wire groups eachforming a fan shape, this is not intended to impose any limitation. Thisconfiguration may be replaced by a configuration in which the pluralityof wires 72 are divided into three or more wire groups each forming afan shape.

(5) Although the foregoing embodiments have illustrated a configurationin which the terminals 61 and the source lines 34A are connected to eachother via the RGB switch circuit 45, this is not intended to impose anylimitation. This configuration may be replaced by a configuration inwhich no RGB switch circuit 45 is included and the source lines 34A andthe terminals 61 are directly connected to each other. That is, theremay be provided as many terminals 61 as the source lines 34A.

(6) Although the foregoing embodiments take such a form that theterminals 61 and 62 and the wires 71 and 72 are placed symmetricallywith respect to the Y-axis, this is not intended to impose anylimitation. For example, the pitch between terminals in the left half ofFIG. 5 and the pitch between terminals in the right half of FIG. 5 maybe different from each other, and the wires 71 and 72 may be placedasymmetrically.

EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS

11: Liquid crystal panel (display panel)

21: CF substrate (counter substrate)

22: Active matrix substrate

26: Glass substrate (substrate)

31G: Gate electrode

34S: Source electrode

40: Pixel electrode

42: Common electrode

43: TFT (switching element)

60: Terminal group

61: Terminal (first terminal)

62: Terminal (second terminal)

63: Terminal (third terminal)

64, 164: Center terminal group

65R, 65L, 165R, 165L: End terminal group

71: Wire (switching element wire)

72: Wire (common electrode wire)

3AL, 3AR: Third terminal group

1. An active matrix substrate comprising: a substrate; pixel electrodesdisposed on the substrate and arrayed in a matrix along a row directionand a column direction; switching elements arranged in the row directionand the column direction on the substrate and connected to the pixelelectrodes, respectively; common electrodes arranged in the rowdirection and the column direction on the substrate; a row of terminalsdisposed in an end section of the substrate with respect to the columndirection and including a group of wire terminals and a group of commonwire terminals that are arranged in the row direction, the group of wireterminals including two end wire terminals disposed at two ends of thegroup of wire terminals, the two end wire terminals including a firstend wire terminal and a second end wire terminal; a group of connectionwires arranged in the row direction on the substrate corresponding tothe wire terminals, respectively, and electrically connecting the wireterminals and the switching elements, the connection wires includingfirst end portions and second end portions, respectively, the first endportions extending from the wire terminals, respectively, and the secondend portions being opposite end portions from the first end portions,the group of connection wires including two end connection wiresincluding a first end connection wire that extends from the first endwire terminal and a second end connection wire that extends from thesecond end wire terminal, the first end wire terminal being away fromthe second end wire terminal with a first distance, the second endportion of the first end connection wire being away from the second endportion of the second end connection wire with a second distance, andthe first distance being smaller than the second distance; and commonwires arranged in the row direction on the substrate and electricallyconnecting the common wire terminals and the common electrodes,respectively, the common wires including third end portions that extendfrom the common wire terminals and fourth end portions that extend fromthe common electrodes, respectively, wherein the common wire terminalsinclude a first set and a second set, the first set including two commonwire terminals that are adjacent to each other at a first set intervaland the second set including another common wire terminals that areadjacent to each other at a second set interval, the second set intervalis smaller than the first set interval, the second set is closer to oneof two ends of the row of terminals than the first set is, the third endportions of two common wires of the common wires extend in a firstdirection from the two common wire terminals of the second set and thefirst end portion of one of the connection wires extends in the firstdirection from one of the wire terminals, and the first end portion ofthe one of the connection wires is disposed between the third endportions of the two common wires.